Electric water heater



Oct. 11, 1932. w. J. HAMMERS ET AL ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed Dec. 29. 195o 2 sheets-sheet i" Hammers Women 5 Oct. 11, 1932. w. J. HAMMERS ET AL ELECTRI C WATER HEATER Filed Dec. 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Al5 l] Si@ A f6 SH 1: Sii s! 'fi 8a NI i 5 NL f@ mmm M E 818 x M J L la 3 l l l I7 12 QSI: l-

J :lf J0 MMM Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES FFICE WILLIAM J. HAMMERS AND ARTHUR F. "WINTER/HALTER, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Application led December 29, 1930. Serial No. 505,233.

This invention relates to electric water hereto, and the other side of the core velheaters and is `primarily concerned with nu ical legs 8 and upper horizontal legs 4 theremerous improvements in the construction by provi ding open rectangular laminated `disclosed in my patent, Reissue #18,160, filed core stated. Around the side or leg 1 of 5 January 14, 1930. t ie core a winding o of wire is located which 5k' The present invention rela-tes to water is connected with any suitable source of alheaters in which the water is heated through i l g electric current whereby the electhe application of electric current passing t ic current may flow continuously therethrough a 1 primary coil around a suitable through when the device is in operation.

il) Core, whereby a Current is induced in a. seci-igainst a side of the other vertical leg 3 60 ondai'y coil which, in practice, is a hollow of the core a metal member is located comtube forming a part of a water conduit, and pri ing an upper block 6, a lower block 7 the coil is short circuited and at the saine and a vertical integral connecting bar 8 (see time the construction is made strong and Fi 3). The upper blocl 6 has a vertical 13 commercially practical and serviceable. The passage through it and, either one or more 65 invention is directed also to further improvepipes 9, ot' thin metal bent and coiled as ments in construction and arrangement of shown around the vertical leg 3 of the core parts whereby a relatively simple .but parare attached at their upper ends so as to ticularly practical water heating unit is procommunicate with the passage through the consumption'ole electric current consumed for or pipes used is connected permanently with heating the water, use being made of thin the upper side ot the lower block 7 which metal for the water tube coil'which is short has a passage therethrough from the lower circuited. ends oie the pipes to an inlet water pipe v An understanding of the invention may be which threads into the ouater side of the 75 had from the following description, taken in blocl .7 to carry water therethrough, through connection With the accompanying drawings, the block 2.7, thence through the coiled pipes in which, 9, and t irough the block 6 to an outlet pipe Fifr. 1 is an elevation of the electric water ll which is threaded into the u Jer side of nl: n n i heating unit of our invention. the bloei; 5 as shown. 8o

Fig. 2 isa like elevation with one part of rlie connecting bar 8 may have a passage the enclosing housing removed illustrating o lengthwise thereolr which Joins with the the interior construction. p es through the blocks 6 and 7 through Fig. 3 is a vertical section substantially on whi I water may pass to absorb heat which tlie pla-ne of line 3-3 of Fig. 2. is generated and absorbed in said bar 8 in S5 Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. the operation 'of the appliance. 3 illustrating va slightmodilication in struc- The construction described is housed withture. in a casing made in two parts. One part, in-

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section dicated at l2, and of the outline best shown substantially on the plane of line 5-5 oli in Fig. 2, has lugs 13 at suitable points 90 Fig. 2, and through which 'openings are made. The Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing a still part oit the housing is formed with further form or modification of structure in i 'in of set 'liange 15 (Fig. 3) to which the invention may be embodied. ye the tw parts of the housing with Like reference characters refer 'to lilre ect to each other and it likewise (Fig. l) 95 parts in the different figures of the drawings. ugs or bosses l@ fitting over the like In the construction, a core oic rectangular 13 on the housing member 12 and with form is made up of laminated sheets of metal, ings therethrough whereby connecting one side of the core having ver ical leo's 1 i 1'? niay pass 'through the lugs or bosses and Ahorizontal lower legs 2 at right angles and secure the housing member to fr i: O

' vided and in which there is economy in the blocli 6. The lower end of the coiled pipe 7K1 gether so l'J-l as to completely house and enclose the con* struction described. rlhe member 12 at one side has suitable space provided for the water pipe coil 9 and the other housing member 14 bears against the outer sides of the blocks 6 and 7. The upper and lower sides or" the core and of said blocks iit fairly closely within the upper and lower sides of the housing members so that when the housing members are placed over the structure and connected together a compact construction is made and one which holds the parts against movement. The housing members 12 and 14 at vari-ous places therein have a plurality of openings 18 made for the entrance of air for cooling purposes.

On the outer side of the housing member 14 an electric control or junction box 19 is fastened and a flexible metallic tube 20 joins therewith through which the wires carrying` current from the source of current supply are carried to the boX. 'Ihe mechanism within the box is of conventional construction and in no sense novel in the present invention.

In Fig. 4 the blocks 6a and 7a between which the water tube coils 9 are located are separated from each other and are not connected by a tie bar 8. This is the only diiiference in structure over that shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 6, instead of using the blocks 6 or 6a and 7 or 7a, a U-shaped coil 21 passes around the side 3 of the core and the legs of said coil extend through a side of the housing member 14 and are joined with inlet and outlet pipes 22, and at the same time electrically connected by split nuts 23 with the housing member 14a, said nuts being of tapered shape and threading into tapered openings through the side of the housing member 140..

lVith this construction it will be noted that the pipe coil or coils 9 are electrically connected in the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3- by reason of the connecting tie 8 between the blocks 6 and 7, and also byV reason 'of the contact of the blocks 6 and 7 with the housing member 14. In Fig. 4 the electric conneet-ion and short circuiting oi the coil 9 is by Contact of the blocks 6a and 7 a. with the housing member 14, it being understood both housing members 12 and 14 are of suitable metal of good electric conductivity. An d in Fig. 6 the coil is short circuited through the electric connection of the ends therewith with the housing member 14a through the intervening clamping nuts 23. The structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is the preferred one. The tie 8 being integral with the bloclls 6 and 7 there is no liability of anjT breakage or deterioration in the short circuited connection which may comefrom mere contacts as in Figs. 4 and 6.

IVith the construction described and with the current passing through the primary coil 5 a current of very heavy amperage and low voltage is induced in the pipe. coils 9 which 1,sse,57e

passes through the coils and the short circuiting connection between them thereby producing very high temperatur-e and heat in the coils 9 which absorbed by water passing therethrough upwardly as the water heats. rlhe tubes 9 are ot thin metal, preferably copper, affording resistance to the passage of the induced current or. heavy ainperage and thereby producing he in large amount in accordance with the well sett-led law of heat production that when electric currents pass through an electric conduit, the heat generated is directly in proportion to the resistance offered and as to the square of the current which passes therethrough.

The construction described has proved very practica-l and serviceable. and with it water may be heated with economy and with much greater economy-7 than has been previously possible where heating of water has been attempted electrically. he construction and design shown is of a practical commercial The unit is designed to be made in dii.- ierent sizes for a greater or .less consumption ot electricity and in the larger sizes the number pipes 9 used may be increased, there being shown in Fig. 3 two of the pipes but the invention in no sense being limited to either one or two of the pipe coils.

rlhe invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within the scope thereof.

We claim:

1. A heater comprising, a core, a primary coil through which electric current is passed wound around said core, blocks having passages therethrough located against the core in spaced relation, a secondary coil comprising a tube of thin metal disposed around the core and having its ends connected with said bloclrs at the ends of the passages therethrough, liquid carrying pipes connected with the blocks at the other ends of said passages and a short circuiting connection between said blocks.

2. A heater comprising a core,'a primary winding adapted to carry electric current located around the core, spaced apart blocks. an integral bar connection between said blocks, each of said blocks having a passage therethrough, a coil of thin tubular pipe material forming a secondary coil around said core connected with the blocks in conjunction with the passages therethrough, and liquid carrying pipes connected with the blocks in conjunction with the other ends of said passages.

3. A heater comprising, a core, a primary coil adapted to carry electric current wound around said core, spaced apart blocks having passages therethrough, a thin pipe conduit providing a secondary coil located around said core and connected at its opposite ends to the blocks in conjunction with the ends of the passages therethrough, liquid carrying pipes connected with the blocks in conjunction with the opposite ends of said passages, and a housing of electro-conductive material within which said core, blocks and primary and secondary coils are located the housing contacting with the blocks and providing a short circuiting connection 1oetween the same.

Ll. A heater comprising a core, a primar y coil around said core adapted to carry electric current, a secondary coil comprising a tube of thin material located around said core, and a housing of electro-conductiif'e material within which the core and primary and secondary coils are contained, said liousing electro-conductively connecting' 'the ends of said secondary coil.

5. A heater comprising a core, a primary coil in an electric circuit wound around said core, a secondary coil comprising a conduit of thin tubular material associated wth the primary coil to receive an induced electric current therefrom, a member comprising spaced apart blocks connected by a tie, each of said blocks having a passage therethrough with which the secondary coil is connected with its ends in connection with ends of the passages in said blocks, liquid carrying pipes connected with the blocks in conjunction with the opposite ends of said passages, and a housing enclosing the core, primary and secondary coils, blocks and connecting tie hetween the same and holding said blocks against a side of the core.

6. A heater containing the elements in combination defined in claim 5, said housing at a plurality of places having openings made through its sides, for the purpose speciiied.

7. In combination, means for producing a varying field of magnetic flux, a housing surrounding said means, a secondary induction coil comprising a metal conduit extending into the housing and into the said ilu): iield and then out of the housing and means for tightly connecting the metal conduit to the housing at its junctures therewith for the purpose described.

8. A heater comprising, a core, a primary coil associated with said core and located in an electric circuit, a secondary coil associated with the primary coil and core to receive an induced electric current from said primary coil, said secondary coil comprising an electric conductor having a fluid passage therethrough, and an electric short circuit connection between turns of said secondary coil, said connection being located against the core.

9. A heater comprising a core, a primary coil in an electric circuit wound around said core, a secondary coil comprising a conduit of thin tubular material associated with the primary coil to receive an induced electric current therefrom, a member comprising spaced apart lolocls connected hy a tie, each of said blocks having a passage therethrough with which the secondary coil is connected with its ends in connection with ends of the passages in said blocks, and liquid carrying means connected to the blocks.

l0. A water heater comprising, means for creating a varying field of magnetic flux, a coil located therein, said coil carrying water therein, and a housing of electro-conductive material located around and contacting with the ends of said coil for short circuiting the same.

1l. A heater comprising a core, a primary coil in an electric circuit wound around said core, a secondary coil comprising a conduit of thin tubular material associated with the primary coil to receive an induced electric current therefrom, spaced apart blocks each having a conduiiJ therein to receive t-he respective ends of the said secondary coil, and a housing enclosing the core, primary and secondary coils and abutting against said blocks whereby the secondary coil is held in proper relationship to the said core.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

l/JILLIAM J. HAMMERS. ARTHUR F. l/INTERHALTER.

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